Apparatus fob exposing liquoks to the action of



I (No Model.)

B. LUCK.

APPARATUS FOR EXPOSING LIQUORS TO THE ACTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR.

No. 278,986. Patented June 5,1883.

lineaaas:

lnveniom N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer. Washington. n. c.

' UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

EDVARD LUCK, OF STAMFORD STREET, BLACKFRIARS, COUNTY OF SURREY,

ENGLAND.

APPARATUSFOR EXPO SING uouoRs TO THE ACTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,986, dated June 5,1883.

Application tiled March 30, 1883. (No model.) Patented in EnglandSeptember 7, 1881, No. 3,883; in France February 2, 1882, No

147,177; in Germany February 7, 1882, X0. 19,280; in Belgium February123, 188-2. No. 57,065; in Spain June 7, 1982, No. 2,693,

and in India July 13, I882, No. 7-16.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EDWARD LUCK, a citizen of England, residing atStamford Street,

hlacltfriars, in the county of Surrey, England,

have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Exposing Liquidsto the Action of Atmospheric Air or other Gases or Vapors, moreparticularly applicable forthemanuiacture of vinegar, the maturing ofspirits, the preparing of sugar-sirups, and the like, (for which I haveobtained patents in Great Britain, dated September 7, 1.881, No. 3,883;France, dated February 2, 1882, No. 117,177 5 Belgium, dated February13, 1882, No. 57,065; Germany, dated February 7, 1882, No. 19,280;Spain, dated June 7, 1882, No. 2,693, and India, dated July 13, 1882,No. 746,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for exposing liquids to theaction of atmospheric air or other gases or vapors, and moreparticularly for acetifying alcoholic liquids in the manufacture ofvinegar and for the maturing of spirits.

In the acetifying or maturing-vessel, as ordinarily constructed, thealcoholic liquid or spirits are made to trickle down basket-work inorder to subject them to the airscurrents or other gases circulatingthrough the vessel. According to my present invention, Isubstitute forsuch basket-work bars, rods, or analogous supports, from which aresuspended strings, tapes, or woven, twisted, or knitted fabrics, downthe surface of which the liquid is made to run.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a vertical section, andFig.- 2 a part sectional plan, of an acetifying-vessel arrangedaccording to my invention. Figs. 3 andet show, respectively, anelevation and a cross-section to an enlarged scale of the upper andlower supporting-bars carrying the cords.

The acetifying or maturing vessel A has fixed to the upper part of thesides ribs a, on

which rest the bars B, of wood or other suitable material, each barhaving in its upper side a longitudinal groove or channel, I), andtransverse grooves or channels 1). Below each bar B is a bar, 0, havingtransverse grooves c, and over and under the upper and lower bars,within the grooves b c, are wound strings, tapes, or cords d, the lowerbars being thus suspended from the upper ones by. means of such strings,as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1. The strings or tapes for eachpair of bars are by preference wound round the upper and lower bars inone continuous length, but they may also be formed as a number ofseparate loops. The bars B are kept the requisite distance apart bymeans of distancepieces b attached thereto.

E is a Barkers mill or series of radial tubes with side openingssupplied with the liquid through the central funnel, E, to which theyare attached, so that as the liquid flows from the tubes these are madeto rotate, thus distributing the liquid uniformly over all thq sets ofbars and strings; or any other known arrangement may be employed fordistributing the liquid. F is the pipe leading the liquid collected-inthe bottom of the vessel A to a lift-pump.

Instead of having the strings or tapes separate and parallel to eachother, they may be twisted together or plaited or intertwined; or, inplace of the strings or tapes a sheet of cal icoor other woven orplaited or intertwined or tapes (1 for securing the sheet to the upperand lower bars, B and C, as shown; or, in place of securing the sheet bycords its ends may be passed round the bars, as shown at Fig. 7, andfastened by eyelet-rivets or by stitching. In this case the bars B and Oare shown without any grooves.

Although the above-described apparatus is- 2 names ing, withsulphurousacid gas, as coninionly practicedlin sugar-refineries; alsofor deodorizing and bleaching cocoanut and other oils by passing ozonein contact therewith.

I am aware that a distributer has been suspended by cords and adapted toreceive, break, and scatter the drops of liquid being treated, but inthat construction the cords do not serve as a medium down which theliquid passes. I

am also aware that in acidification of liquid in vinegar manufacturechambers having perforated floors and a series of suspended cords withfree lower ends down which the liquid is adapted to trickle have beenemployed; but these contrivances are not sought to be covered in thisapplication.

- Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means Iknow of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim- 1. Inapparatus for exposing liquids to the action of atmospheric air andother gases, the suspended strings, cords, or tapes or textile fabrics(1 within a casing or vessel through which air or gas is made to passwhile the liquid is caused to trickle down the strings, cords, tapes, orfabrics, combined with the bars B,

having upper longitudinal groove, 6, and

the combination of suspended strings, cords,

tapes, or textile fabrics down which theliquid tobe acted upon is madeto travel, with supports B, grooved longitudinally and transversely toact as channels or guides for the liquid.

3. In combination with the bars or supports B and suspended bars 0, andcords or tapes, as described, the radial tubes E, having 0penings uponone side, and the funnel F, connected therewith, whereby the feed of theliquid through the rotating tubes causes the same to be uniformlydistributed over all the bars and cords, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th day of March, A. D.1883.

EDXVARD LUCK.

YVitnesses:

OLIVER IMRAY, G. XV. XVEsTLEY.

